WOMEN'S HOOPS OPENS THREE-GAME HOMESTAND SATURDAY VS. PORTLAND STATE

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State women's basketball team returns to the Nest on Saturday, Feb. 23 when they host Portland State. Saturday's game is the Hornets' first in the Nest in two weeks and is the first of a three-game stretch at home.

Sacramento State rolled to a 78-69 win on the road at Weber State on Wednesday, beating the Wildcats for the second time this season and for the first time in Ogden since 2013-14 season.

Kennedy Nicholas set a new career high on Wednesday, collecting seven blocks against the Weber State Wildcats. Nicholas passed her previous career-best of six blocks (2018 at Montana) and finished one shy of matching the Sacramento State record for blocks in a conference game (8).

Hannah Friend finished with a team-high 21 points in the Hornets' win over Weber State, her team-leading 12th game with 20 or more points this season. Friend is averaging 19.2 points per game this season, the fourth best mark in the Big Sky Conference.

Point guards Gabi Bade and Milee Enger each finished with four assists in Wednesday's matchup. Splitting time as they cover for the injured Tiara Scott, Bade (25 minutes) and Enger (24 minutes) each scored eight points and added three rebounds to their four assists for nearly identical lines.

Portland State comes into Saturday's matchup in the Nest with a 19-4 overall record, including a 12-3 record in the Big Sky. The Vikings are coming off a hard-fought road win at Idaho State. Portland State has been strong on the road all year, playing to a 6-2 record in eight games.

By The Numbers

7: Blocks for Kennedy Nicholas against Weber State, a new career high (previous was 6).

15: Different starting lineups used by Sacramento State in 23 games this season.

Sacramento State took their first lead of the afternoon midway through the first quarter on Wednesday against Weber State and never gave it back against the Wildcats. The Hornets were up nine at half, as much as 14 in the third quarter, and maintained their distance for the 78-69 win.

Kennedy Nicholas stole the spotlight Wednesday, collecting a career-best seven blocks against Weber State while also scoring 14 points and pulling in nine rebounds. Hannah Friend, the other part of Sacramento State's dominating duo, scored a game-high 21 points while also pulling in nine boards.

Against Portland State

Saturday afternoons matchup against Portland State is the second and final regular season contest between the two teams this season. The Hornets fell on the road at Portland State earlier this season, 74-58.

All-time, the Vikings hold a 29-18 advantage over Sacramento State. They have won three straight and four of the last five games between the two squads.

Sacramento State's last win over Portland State came on the road during the 2017-17 season, a 77-68 victory. The Hornets' last win in the Nest against the Vikings came in 2015-16, a 132-91 win. That win was part of a program-best five-game win streak against Portland State.

Block Party!

Kennedy Nicholas collected a career-best seven blocks in Wednesdays win at Weber State. The junior forward broke her previous mark of six, something she achieved just once, last season at Montana.

Nicholas finished one block shy of matching the program record for blocks in a Big Sky conference game of eight, held by Kristine Knowlton (2003 vs. Montana State).

This season, Nicholas has 52 blocks, second most in the Big Sky. She has four or more blocks in five games and two or more in 14. With five games remaining, Nicholas's 52 blocks rank seventh in program history for most in a single season. She is six blocks back of sixth and seven away from third.

For her career, Nicholas has 103 total blocks, which rank fifth in program history. She is one of just five players to have more than 100 blocks in her career.

1,000 Point Milestone

With 21 points in Wednesday's game, junior guard Hannah Friend climbed ever closer to joining the Hornets 1,000 Point Club, moving to 967 career points. Including her freshman year with Delaware, Friend now has 1,071 career NCAA Div. I points.

In less than two full seasons with Sacramento State, Friend is averaging 18.2 points per game, the fourth-best career average in program history. With five regular season games remaining, she is on pace to become the 14th member of the Sacramento State 1,000 Point Club before the end of the regular season. She would become the first player to reach that mark in her first two seasons with the program.